FAYETTEVILLE - Bret Bielema’s teams have earned a reputation as some of the least-penalized in the country, and while the Razorbacks did not get off to a clean start with penalties in Saturday’s scrimmage at Walker Pavilion, the coaches’ reactions to penalties showed their style.
Players who committed false start penalties immediately jogged off the field to begin a series of up-downs, and Bielema said the offenders got in some extra conditioning after the workout.
The Razorbacks committed four false starts in the first 20 snaps of the scrimmage, then had three more before the day was done.
Brandon Mitchell led a touchdown drive during the second half of the scrimmage on which there were four penalties, overcoming a secondand-15, a third-and-15 and a first-and-20 on the way to Mitchell’s 4-yard scoring pass to tight end Brad Taylor. The offense generated 95 yards of total offense on the series and had a 40-yard pass from Mitchell to Keon Hatcher nullified by an illegal formation call.
Injury report
Bret Bielema said he thought the Razorbacks escaped Saturday’s 74-play scrimmage without a major injury.
Receiver Demetrius Wilson hit the turf hard on the day’s second play after making a 10-yard catch and did not return after his helmet smacked on the turf.
Tight end Mitchell Loewen, who dropped a pass for a moderate gain on third-and-1 from Brandon Mitchell a few plays earlier, was rolled up from behind during a Nate Holmes carry and suffered an ankle injury.
“I think both of them are going to be all right,” Bielema said.
Sam’s assignment
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman, who received a $225,000 raise to $500,000 after being approached by Alabama Coach Nick Saban during the winter, added further responsibility with the payincrease.
Pittman will not carry the title of recruiting coordinator, which belonged to Chris Hauser, but he will be a point manin recruiting campaigns.
“Sam is more my liaison with my coaching staff,” Bielema said. “He’s apremium recruiter and the more I can point to Sam and say, ‘This is how Pitt does it, the rest of us should be following,’ is kind of what it is.” Smash up
Safety Rohan Gaines, who made a big impression early in camp last fall with his willingness to hit hard, did the same Saturday with a big split-second shot on Javontee Herndon just as the ball arrived. The knock put Gaines on his knees for a few seconds and sent him out of the scrimmage, much like his big hit in the Texas A&M game last year.
Low down on Lowe
Bret Bielema said safety Defonta Lowe isn’t on the team this spring because he needs to focus on academics.
“I guess it was the second or third week of this semester, I just told him he needed to concentrate on his academics and get everything right there, so he’s not with us as of right now,” Bielema said.
“It’s really in his hands,” Bielema said, whether Lowe, who had one tackle as a true freshman last season, returns to the team.
Minor move
Keante Minor has moved from receiver to tailback, where he had three carries for 4 yards in Saturday’s scrimmage based on unofficial statistics.
Bret Bielema said the move was made after the first week of spring practice with the hope it will give Minor a better opportunity to play.
“It’s actually gone pretty well,” Bielema said. “I think he was kind of shocked at first, but he’s showed a little bit of toughness and ability to do things. … We’d like to get him on the field and thought that might give him an opportunity.” Switch up
Brey Cook, who had been working at offensive tackle, played at firstteam guard with Mitch Smothers on Saturday.
Redshirt sophomore Grady Ollison worked at first-teamoffensive tackle opposite David Hurd, with stalwart Travis Swanson at center.
Seniors Jerry Mitchell and Price Holmes have moved from safety to linebacker.
Tate returns
Tight end Austin Tate, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, took part in the scrimmage after being limited when spring practice opened.
Bret Bielema said Tate wore a green no-contact jersey the first week of practice. He was medically cleared for contact this week.
Bielema said he’s impressed by Tate’s maturity and he’s glad to have a senior at tight end along with sophomores Alex Voelzke and Mitchell Loewen and redshirt freshman Jeremy Sprinkles.
Turner hurt
Linebacker A.J. Turner has been slowed by a broken right wrist. He practiced earlier this spring before the extent of the injury was discovered and went through drill work only Saturday.
“He had been complaining about his wrist,” Bielema said. “He actually broke his wrist about four or five weeks ago. He was playing with it - tough - and give him a lot of credit. But he’ll have that thing casted up for about five or six weeks and then he should be good to go after that.”
QB cam
There’s at least one thing left from the Bobby Petrino era.
Arkansas is using a camera that films from the quarterback’s viewpoint, something the Razorbacks first implemented in practice two years ago under Petrino.
Bret Bielema said the quarterback camera is big with offensive coordinator Jim Chaney.
“Jim really likes it, and whatever a quarterback coach wants I’ll get him,” Bielema said. “The pretty boys need everything they need. That’s really a good teaching tool. Jim was pretty adamant about having it.”
Sports, Pages 28 on 03/31/2013